Share of male workers in informal employment in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Share of male workers in informal employment was 5.2% in 2018. ▼ Falling

Latest (2018)
5.2%
Change on year
down 12.2%
World rank
56th
of 82 countries
All-time high
9.3%
in 2007
All-time low
2.3%
in 2010
Years of data
12
2007–2018

Share of male workers in informal employment in United Kingdom, 2007–2018

2468102007201220182007: 9.3 %2008: 6.8 %2009: 7 %2010: 2.3 %2011: 3.3 %2012: 4.9 %2013: 3.8 %2014: 3.2 %2015: 3.3 %2016: 3 %2017: 6 %2018: 5.2 %

Source: International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for share of male workers in informal employment in United Kingdom is 5.2%, measured in 2018.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.2% on the previous year and down 23.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of male workers in informal employment in United Kingdom peaked at 9.3% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 2010.

United Kingdom ranks 56th of 82 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.

Share of male workers in informal employment in United Kingdom, year by year

Annual values for Share of male workers in informal employment in United Kingdom, 2007 to 2018.
Year % Change
2007 9.3%
2008 6.8% -26.5%
2009 7.0% +2.1%
2010 2.3% -66.5%
2011 3.3% +42.1%
2012 4.9% +47.4%
2013 3.8% -23.2%
2014 3.2% -14.4%
2015 3.3% +3.4%
2016 3.0% -9.3%
2017 6.0% +98.0%
2018 5.2% -12.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 7.7% 6.8% 9.3% 3
2010s 3.9% 2.3% 6.0% 9

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 53 North Macedonia 13.3% compare
  2. 54 Poland 7.8% compare
  3. 55 Slovakia 5.5% compare
  4. 57 Portugal 4.3% compare
  5. 58 Lithuania 3.2% compare
  6. 59 Italy 3.1% compare

See the full ranking of 82 places →

More work & labour data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of male workers in informal employment in United Kingdom?
Share of male workers in informal employment in United Kingdom was 5.2% in 2018, according to International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of male workers in informal employment recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 9.3% in 2007.
What is the lowest share of male workers in informal employment recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 2010.
How does United Kingdom rank for share of male workers in informal employment?
United Kingdom ranks 56th out of 82 countries with data for 2018.
Is share of male workers in informal employment rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is down 23.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of male workers in informal employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of male workers in informal employment in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/share-in-informal-employment-male/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of male workers in informal employment
Unit
%
Source
International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
82 places, 1,190 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed

Share of employed males working in jobs that lack basic social or legal protection and employment benefits. Does not include illegal and illicit activities. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.